New Repair Facility in SoCal??

Daviea

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One of the many questions I'm hit with from week to week is for suggestions on where to send boards off for repair. Since I know so many people, I'm usually happy to recommend any number of repair guys. Although, the number of available techs I can recommend has decreased rapidly over the last year or so. The situation has been on my mind for some time now.

So much on my mind, in fact, that I've been contemplating opening up a small arcade repair facility here in SoCal. I've got a heap of tech buddies who are all excellent component level repair guys who have free time on their hands!! Add to that the fact that they've been looking to expand their existing workload.

Since I've got over two decades of board repair experience with arcade games, the thought hit me to open up a repair shop and hire these guys to do the work. I would oversee the entire operation and offer up my experience for the really hairy repairs. :) I could also look into hiring existing arcade repair guys in the area (interested in this? PM me).

I'm not sure of all the details, but I know that I could keep the prices low and offer fairly quick turn around times based on sticking with board repairs I am 100% familiar with (pretty extensive list of capabilities here).

Right now, this is just in the idea stage, but I wanted to get input from you guys. Is there any need or desire for this type of work here in SoCal? I have the ability to hire and house a repair staff and I have an unusually large amount of experience repairing Atari, Williams and Bally/Midway games which I can back the operation with. I probably wouldn't want to do 99% of the repairs myself, but I wouldn't mind doing a few here and there - especially the very difficult repairs. :)

I don't think there's really any money in this for me, but I'd like to help the community as well as my tech friends who are looking for the work.

Input?

Dave
 
I love the idea of there being a reliable repair facility close to me! I'm in O.C..

But, if my machines needed work, I'm most likely going to have a tech come to my place rather than haul a machine somewhere. I'd potentially bring individual parts (sans monitors) for work, though. And I do have a countertop poker machine that needs some wiring fixed...
 
I say if you can make it happen, go for it. You're setting up a talented and reliable repair outlet for the community and creating jobs for people that need it. So long as you can make enough to cover overhead, payroll, etc, it sounds like win-win for everyone.
 
...

Dude,.
Start out just doing it out of your garage.
Save money,.and gauge interest.
As you improve the craft,.or strengthen the numbers,.you expand to a shop.
However you do it,.i say start here having people ship you boards..
i got a few..
 
Some of the guys around So Cal who used to repair boards have gotten out of it in recent years, so I do think there is a need for this service. However, right now with the economy being so lousy, it might be hard to guage demand.

What boards can you repair??
 
I already have the facility (for my "real" business). I was thinking of devoting a small portion of space at my facility for this endeavor. I'm not sure I would want to do it from my garage. LOL

Though, I see your point. Start small, build up.

Dave
 
I think I should send you a Nintendo DK3 boardset to repair and let you prove you can do something other than Atari big timer ;)
Bottom line - there are some very good guys out there but man are the numbers dwindling as well as the repair work quality. Any more help is always welcome.
Just as long as the shipping time is decent lmao
 
Off the top of my head, here's a taste of what I am 100% familiar with and fully capable of repairing:

Atari Boardsets:

Asteroids
Asteroids Deluxe
Battlezone
Lunar Lander
Red Baron
Tempest
Major Havoc
Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Space Duel
Blackwidow
Gravitar
Quantum


All B&W Atari Boardsets


720
A.P.B.
Centipede
Crystal Castles
Food Fight
Gauntlet
Gauntlet II
I, Robot
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Marble Madness
Millipede
Missile Command
Paperboy
Peter Pack Rat
Return of the Jedi
Road Blasters
Road Runner
Warlords
Regulator Audio I
Regulator Audio II



Bally/Midway Boardsets:


Pac Man
Ms. Pac Man
Galaga
Galaxian


Spy Hunter
Discs of Tron (upright and environmental versions)
Tron
Two Tigers
Tapper (Budweiser & RootBeer)
Wacko

Dual Audio Amp
Absolute Position
Lamp Sequencer
Cheap Squeak Deluxe


**Essentially ALL of the MCRI/II/III series boardsets and support boards.



Williams Boardsets:


Defender
Stargate
Robotron
Joust
Sinistar
Joust 2
Inferno
Turkey Shoot
(all ROM, CPU, Sound, Interface boards for above)

...and more. I'm getting tired of typing this list. LOL

What might set me apart a little more:

- I have an existing stash of common components for repairing ALL of the above.
- I have a massive stock custom chips (for above games) which are nearly impossible to come by anymore.
- I have a comprehensive supply of reproduction parts for controllers for most of the above ATARI games (for maintenance, repairs and rebuilds).


I also have a lot of experience with Taito, Gottlieb, Universal, Sega, Nintendo, etc, etc, etc but I'm not sure that I'd want to take on any of those... Maybe Reactor/Q*bert and the like.. ..Qix and ZooKeeper.... LOL

Dave
 
Dave, i think your heart is in the right place, but i hope people aren't still waiting on product while you are thinking of new directions to take your business. I appreciate what you are trying to do for us, but if you keep moving forward with new ideas before finishing up existing orders, people are going to lose faith. Just my .02
 
Dave,

I your shop in San Clemente. I saw the picture on the website and it looks like the industrial area out in Rancho San Clemente. I would drop off boards for sure. Any chance on any other repairs Hint Hint.. monitor chassis maybe?? I am in SC every week visiting my family and friends I lived there for 30 years so it would be great for me but I am just one person so I guess you need to gauge how much need there is.

Toby
 
well I have 2 sets of battlezone boards that need repairs

Now if I could find someone to repair one of my 5 Monaco GP boards I'd be all set
 
I understand - this is just me thinking out loud right now. I wouldn't actually start on it until I was ready for it. Plus, I wouldn't be doing the repairs myself - I would have a staff doing it. The repair facility would be completely separate of RAM Controls which is my personal hobby business (but I am trying to devote more and more time to it so I can potentially create a profit-earning business).


Dave, i think your heart is in the right place, but i hope people aren't still waiting on product while you are thinking of new directions to take your business. I appreciate what you are trying to do for us, but if you keep moving forward with new ideas before finishing up existing orders, people are going to lose faith. Just my .02
 
Works for me... I don't do vectors and most of the older non-JAMMA Atari boards. ;)

RJ
 
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